Communication Link Analysis
Communication Link Analysis
Communication Link Analysis
Radio Systems
Ant
Transmitter
Information Modulator Amplifier Filter Feedline
RF Propagation
Ant
Receiver
Information Demodulator Pre-Amplifier Filter Feedline
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As the wave propagates, the surface area increases The power flux density decreases proportional to 1/d2 from the source, a portion of the surface appears as a plane The wave may be modeled as a plane wave
Most real antennas do not radiate spherically The wavefront will be only a portion of a sphere
reduced Power density is increased! The increase in power density is expressed as Antenna Gain dB increase in power along best axis dBi = gain over isotropic antenna dBd = gain over dipole antenna
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Transmitted Power
EIRP Pt Gt
The exact same formulas and principles apply on the receiving side too!
This formula assumes power and gain is expressed linearly. Alternatively, you can express power and gain in decibels and add them: EIRP = P(dB) + G(dB)
Propagation Models
Large-scale (Far Field) propagation model Gives power where random environmental effects
have been averaged together Waves appear to be plane waves
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Limited to line-of-sight for most signals (more or less) Max distance (m):
d 7140 Kh
h = height (in meters) K = fudge factor (around 4/3)
Attenuation prop. to square of distance traveled Free space: P (4d ) 2 (4fd ) 2 f = frequency t d = distance (m) Pr 2 c2 = wavelength (m) ( 4fd ) 2 Pt c = speed of light
10 log10
Pr
10 log10
c2
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2.6x 10-8 mW
RF Propagation
Ant
Receiver
Information Demodulator Pre-Amplifier Filter
Feedline
Gain
A Link Budget analysis determines if there is enough power at the receiver to recover the information
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Begin with the power output of the transmit amplifier Subtract (in dB) losses due to passive components in the transmit chain after the amplifier Filter loss Feedline loss Jumpers loss Etc. Add antenna gain dBi Result is EIRP Ant
Transmitter
Information
Modulator
Amplifier
Filter Feedline
RF Propagation
Calculating EIRP
All values are example values Component Power Amplifier Filter loss Jumper loss Feedline loss Antenna gain 150 ft. at 1dB/100 foot 25 Watts Value 44 (0.3) (1) (1.5) 12 Scale dBm dB dB dB dBi
Total
53
dBm
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Hata Model used extensively in cellular communications. Empirical Model based on Okumura.
Better estimates the path loss experienced as compared to Free Space. Valid with range 1-20km, base height 30-200m
hb is the base station antenna height in meters. hm is the mobile antenna height also measured in meters. R is the distance from the cell site to the mobile in km. fc is the transmit frequency in MHz.
a(hm) is an adjustment factor for the type of environment and the hieght of the mobile.
a(hm) = 0 for urban environments with a mobile height of 1.5m.
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The Receiver has several gains/losses Specific losses due to known environment around the receiver Vehicle/building penetration loss Receiver antenna gain Feedline loss Filter loss These gains/losses are added to the received signal strength The result must be greater than the receivers sensitivity
Ant
Receiver
Filter Pre-Amplifier Demodulator Information
Feedline
Receiver Sensitivity
Sensitivity describes the weakest signal power level that the receiver is able to detect and decode
Sensitivity is determined by the lowest signal-to-noise ratio at which the signal can be recovered Different modulation and coding schemes have different minimum SNRs
Range: <0 dB to 60 dB
Sensitivity is determined by adding the required SNR to the noise present at the receiver Noise Sources
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Thermal noise
N = kTB (Watts)
Thermal noise is usually very small for reasonable bandwidths Noise Factor = SNRin/SNRout (positive because amplifiers always generate noise) May be expressed linearly or in dB
Sensitivity (W) = kTB * NF(linear) * minimum SNR required (linear) Sensitivity (dBm) = 10log10(kTB*1000) + NF(dB) + minimum SNR required (dB)
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Sensitivity Example
Example parameters Signal with 200KHz bandwidth at 290K NF for amplifier is 1.2dB or 1.318 (linear) Modulation scheme requires SNR of 15dB or 31.62 (linear) Sensitivity = Thermal Noise + NF + Required SNR Thermal Noise = kTB = (1.3803 x 10-23 J/K) (290K)(200KHz) = 8.006 x 10-16 W = -151dBW or -121dBm -16 W )(1.318)(31.62) = 3.33 x 10-14 W Sensitivity (W) = (8.006 x 10 Sensitivity (dBm) = -121dBm + 1.2dB + 15dB = -104.8dBm Sensitivity decreases when: Bandwidth increases Temperature increases Amplifier introduces more noise
Transmit/propagate chain produces a received signal has some RSS (Received Signal Strength)
EIRP minus path loss For example 50dBm EIRP 130 dBm = -80dBm For example, +5dBi antenna gain, 3dB feedline/filter loss -78dBm signal into LNA of receiver
If the receiver has sensitivity of -78dBm or lower, the signal is successfully received.
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Link Budgets
A Link Budget determines what maximum path loss a system can tolerate Includes all factors for EIRP, path loss, fade margin, and receiver sensitivity For two-way radio systems, there are two link budgets Base to mobile (Forward) Mobile to base (Reverse) The system link budget is limited by the smaller of these two (usually reverse) Otherwise, mobiles on the margin would have only one-way capability The power of the more powerful direction (usually forward) is reduced so there is no surplus
Amplifier power Filter loss Feedline loss TX Antenna gain Path loss Fade Margin Vehicle Penetration RX Antenna gain Feedline loss
Signal into mobiles LNA has strength 33dBm path loss If Mobile Sensitivity is -100dBm
Reverse (Mobile to Base) 28dBm Amplifier power (1dB) Filter loss Feedline loss (3dB) 3dBi TX Antenna gain Fade Margin (5dB) Vehicle Penetration (12dB) X Path Loss 10dBi RX Antenna gain (3dB) Feedline loss Signal into bases LNA has strength
17dBm path loss
Unbalanced Forward path can tolerate 11dB more loss (distance) than reverse
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